Words I never thought I’d say: is it time for me to leave Chicago?

I always knew I’d have kids. It was a deal-breaker. If a guy didn’t want ’em, I didn’t want him.

And then two things happened, almost simultaneously —

I met my now husband

My business exploded

It’s been five years. And with each passing year, my desire for Saya Junior lessens.

I won’t go into detail here about the whys. But when I learned that yet another friend of mine is leaving Chicago, this to procreate or not to procreate topic bubbled up. This topic of which I was so certain of my position. This topic where my stance was non-negotiable. This topic that for thirty odd years was viewed one way, the right way, and then in a moment, viewed another way. The other right way.

Because that’s how I feel about my beloved hometown and whether or not it’s home.

I grew up in Evanston, a suburb touching Chicago. Needing to find myself (and friends and my waistline), I skipped off to Boston College for school. I’ve been happily back in Chicago since graduating in 2000.

My Chicago pride runs deep. Our flag, skyline, lakefront, grid system, public transportation, bikability, walkability, improv comedy, neighborhoods, architecture, food, people… I love it all, hard. And I’ve always known that this would be the place where I settled, where I raised a family, where I called home.

Until now.

Starting a little over a year ago, I began getting emails and seeing Facebook posts similar to —

By the time 2014 concludes in a couple of weeks, I’ll have had 42 friends leave Chicago, in fourteen months. Forty-two. FORTY-TWO. And I mean leave-leave. Not move to the suburbs, I mean go to where they talk funny. If I inlcuded the people who moved to the ‘burbs, that number would be… well, 42 + a lot. I’m also not counting couples where I am friends with both, that’d also increase the number. It’s already high enough.

Proof I’m not exaggerating —

Melissa K.

Melissa and Kyle

Tara

Maureen

Stacy P.

Allison

Shannon C.

Katie P.

Meg

Vaughnda and Joe

Cindy

Lesley

Arianna

Mike

Shannon D.

Charlotte

Lisa

Alexa

Jeremy

Arshiya

Erin H.

Nikki

Erin R.

Jill

Julie

Jason & Colleen

Deanna

Kara

Diana

Erin and Darin

Adrienne

Brighid

Megan

Patty and Brian

Michelle

Debbie

Katie M.

Lauren

Oriana

Victor

Oz

Jen

Stacey A.

As this mass exodus occurred, I wondered. Why?

I hypothesized it was due to two primary reasons.

One

We had the winter from hell. I’m not one to complain about the cold months. It’s a fact, something you know is going to happen every year. But 2013/2014 was a doozy. It never ended. The picturesque winter of fresh flakes, snowsuit sledding, and hot cocoa lasted for about a day. The rest of it was digging out dirty-snowed cars, temperature lows you were sure couldn’t be reached, and a haze of grumpiness that enveloped the city. The internet broke from and the media made love to ‘polar vortex’ and ‘snowmageddon’ hashtags and lexicon. Last December through April in Chicago, it was easy to hate.

Two

I’m 36 and most of my peers are of similar age.

An age of reflection and change for many —

They’re having kids and thus want different school districts, yards, noise levels

They’re not having kids but all their friends are

They want kids but it hasn’t happened yet due to reasons like not having a partner and infertility struggles

They just got married

They’re moving in support of their significant other’s career, education, life-dream

Everyone around them is coupling up and they’re single

They want to be closer to family because their parents are getting older, their siblings are having kids, they’re having kids

They’ve been in the same job/field for the bulk of their adult life and realize it’s not what they want to do for the rest of their lives

They’ve reached a level in their career where they can negotiate for things like a location-change and/or where success means they don’t have to be as hands-on or location-based

They don’t have kids, pets, plants and figure if they’re going to take a huge leap, this is the time to do it

They’ve lived in the same place forever

They realize that friendships have changed and that they no longer feel a part of a community, that their friends feel more like strangers, that it’s time for new relationships

Their priorities changed from proximity to bars and knowing a gazillion people to proximity to independent bookstores and having a few close bosom-buddies

It was also around the fifteenth person who shared their “I’m excited and nervous!” news that my reaction began to change. From “Good for you! Excited for you! Congrats!” to “Good for you! Excited for you! What is this foreign feeling I’m feeling?”

Envy is not a part of my life. With the exception of my belly-rolls, my existence is pretty much how I want it to be. Professionally, socially, romantically, spiritually, whatever-ally — things are great. The most important thing to me, quality of life, I have that and then some. But when I see photos of Melissa’s kids hiking in Asheville, Jill’s students dancing in Alaska, Arshiya 5king in San Francisco, Julie making coffee in Australia… ENVY.

And I’m not sure why.

So of course, I turned to data (nothing makes me giddier than spreadsheets — join me at my favorite class to teach, Be A Productivity Rockstar!).

“Why People Left Chicago” Data

I sent a short survey to some of the mass exodus’ers. Here is some of the information collected from the responses and from shares —

For the next adventure in life. I really want to have a life that I can live anywhere. We’re testing the waters to see if that’s true.

Cost to live in the city. Knew we’d get priced out especially if we wanted to grow our family and figured a suburb on the coast where our family was was better than a anonymous suburb far from the city life and our friends.

I’ve always wanted to get back to Colorado after living here briefly. Significant other has family here so it seemed like a good place to set down some roots!!

For a better city/nature balance. To experience the best of both worlds: high tech, modern, progressive industry downtown and organic farms, alternative energy, and the ocean right outside the city.

Felt like I was “treading water” in Chicago – couldn’t get ahead.

I found that I didn’t love Chicago anymore and couldn’t get excited about it again. It started to feel too big, too crowded, my commute was too much, I wasn’t seeing the friends I did have as much. In my effort to try to rekindle my love for Chicago, I did some fun stuff and I was making lots of girlfriends but having a difficult time dating. I wanted to live in a smaller city where living/getting around was just a little bit easier. I needed more breathing room.

In 2008 my job sent me to LaCrosse, WI 3 times, 1 week each time. During the second trip I started to like:

Driving downtown LaCrosse and there was plenty of easy, free parking.

Talking with total strangers in the grocery store.

The open space.

I was shocked. After my second visit to LaCrosse, I didn’t want to return to Chicago’s intensity and congestion. One thing to be clear: I have nothing bad to say about Chicago. The LaCrosse experience just showed me something that I didn’t know: I was ready for a slower life.

Great job opportunity

Wanted to work in international development

Can’t stand the cold any longer

Chicago didn’t quite feel like home. It was a great adventure for a few years, but I was looking for a place in which I felt more comfortable.

Work

Greater professional opportunities

Secondary Reason They Left

Ready for a new adventure

The weather, being inspired by seeing a bunch of other friends do it, feeling stuck and not challenged at my current job, living near wine country.

Lifestyle change (helloooo mountains!)

It was pretty expensive. I had a hard time paying that much money for the lifestyle I was after.

Wanted to find a place to call home that was warmer (!!) and closer to friends and family, mountains, the ocean, and walks in the woods. I really missed wilderness, and DC has a giant straight-up forest — 1750 acres right in the middle of the city — with hills, streams, and hiking trails.

Chicago is getting too hectic for me. People are rude and nasty. Gun violence was way high and since we were living right outside of the West side border, crime was particularly high. I can only imagine what is going to happen when welfare programs (food stamps, section 8 etc) start getting cut. Also, constant alerts from the schools about attempted abductions of girls. Yikes!

Weather

Family+personal/adventure/weather

The cost of living. We decided we wanted to buy and were able to get more for our money in another location.

Didn’t want to experience another Polar Vortex if I didn’t have to

It doesn’t feel like home to me; I miss nature and enjoy elevation and wide open spaces, I don’t care for sports, I enjoy being active over drinking, I miss having a car which was too expensive to justify for city living and left me not wanting to meet friends in the far corners of the city

Time to live somewhere else, especially out West and out of the cold brutal winter

Salt Water, Mountains… no sub -20 temperatures, year around sailing, less taxes, less shooting and more space

Wanting to surround myself with folks I could relate better to. The Midwest is infamous for its hard work ethic and ‘pulling yourself up by the bootstraps’. That’s not my thing. Or the thing of pacific northwesterners. It’s more laid back, graceful of itself, patient with others, accepting, and just generally not in a hurry to get to the proverbial top, or through a stoplight.

Job ended

Warmer weather, place to build a life – wasn’t interested in Chicago suburbs and was feeling a bit “over it” in the city.

Daily micro-aggressions and overall racial tension in the city was driving me mad. Like, seriously, I was getting depressed and frustrated all the time and I just couldn’t take it anymore.

Needed a change, everyone I knew has left the city

Had never lived outside of IL and was ready for a change

Violence uptick/shooting in Rogers Park and the winters

Tired of the hustle and the bustle….and of everyone being so CRANKY!!!!

I am into backpacking and camping and felt like I had kinda maxed out doing that in Chicago (had to drive 6-8 hours to get anywhere worthwhile) so wanted easier access to the mountains/outdoors.

As I get older, I don’t want to deal with shoveling snow, and brushing snow off of my car.

It was important to me to have access to the things that are important to me —

If my car needs a special part, there’s a likelihood that my mechanic has it or can get it from across town. He won’t have to order it and wait days for it to arrive.

Concerts by major artists

Live music

Storytelling events

Any food I want: sushi, Indian, Cajun, seafood

LaCrosse is not such a place. So, if my choices were LaCrosse or Chicago, I would have stayed in Chicago.

I’ve lived in a lot of other places and here are my reasons for not wanting to move to any of these:

New York City: the sensory overload was great in my 20s and 30s. Back then I spent so much time in NYC that I considered myself a New Yorker. Right now? No.

Boston: That city felt like New York City’s resentful little brother. I’d go back to NYC before Boston.

I started asking around and researching. The short list was Austin, TX or Portland, OR.

I visited Portland in 2009 and fell in love with it. The city can feel urban and rural at the same time. There are houses that are surrounded by trees and feel like they’re in the forest, but they’re within Portland proper. So, it’s easy to get the quiet and seclusion, while having access to big city conveniences.

In summary, it appears that adventure + fulfilling employment + warm weather + less expenses + nature + friendliness + family + something different = what people in their mid-30s’ish want and what they’re willing to take a huge leap to procure.

What This Means For Me

I loved reading everyone’s responses. As I mulled them over and as I mulled over the travel I’ve done in the past year – Hawaii, New Orleans, Montreal, Nashville, Toronto, Vermont, Boston, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia, Denver – and thought about what resonated with me in what the respondents said and in on my trips, I think I’ve found the answer to my envy. I am envious of everyday exploration.

It’s not the touristy things – the museums, the famous restaurants, the professional sporting events – that get me when people share their new lives. It’s the everyday living. The farmer’s market. The apartment layout. The walk they took.

I want to explore. I want to see things through different glasses. I want to appreciate things.

I want to figure out short cuts and the best biking routes. I want to choose where I work for the day by looking up new coffeehouses, plotting them on my Google Map, and adding them to my World Domination Coffeehouse List. I want to go solo to events and share the story of how I ended up there. I want to finally bring Mac & Cheese to all the cities that have been asking for it over these ten years. I want to chuckle at how people call pop “Coke” even if they want a Sprite. I want to ride the bus not to get from A to B but to gaze out the window.

This isn’t to say I’ve done Chicago. So many restaurants, areas, shows, classes, people to experience that I haven’t. But I’m not excited to explore Chicago.

Plus, I enjoy how traveling makes me love Chicago more. Never do I appreciate alleys more than when I go to Boston or NYC and see their garbage on the sidewalk. Never do I heart the CTA as much as I do when I’m trying to figure out how to get somewhere without a car or a bike and with no transport options. Never do I amen flatness more than when I’m walking my bike up a Vermont hill.

There are a few folks who’ve left this beautiful city and things haven’t turned out as expected. Which sometimes can be positive, but in their cases, in this current moment, is negative. But most of the mass exodus’ers are fabulously happy.

Which is what I want. I’m happy here. But I want a different happy.

And with that statement, comes questions —

What does different happy entail?

How does Husband fit into the equation? He’s a 9 to 5er and much less risk-embracing than I when it comes to paychecks, benefits, and saving for the future. Will he leap with me? Will we become one of those non-traditional couples, living a part?

Do I move short-term (3 months, 6 months) or do I go all in?

Should I just travel more and not really “move”?

Do I give up my awesome converted toy-factory live/work space?

Do I cancel my yoga and gym memberships?

Will I move somewhere else, realize how good I had it in Chicago, and regret it?

Will I miss Chicago? In a good way? In a bad way?

Will Chicago miss me?

Will I lose what I’ve worked so hard to build in Chicago?

Will I be able to maintain my business elsewhere?

Will I be able to grow my business elsewhere?

Can I be successful while being a nomad?

Will moving be the worst thing I’ve ever done?

Will moving be the best thing I’ve ever done?

Where do I go?

Do I go somewhere because I know people there? Because it’s warm? Because it’d be good for business? Because it’s similar to Chicago but not Chicago? Because it’s totally different than Chicago? Because there are gorgeous vistas and tasty lattes?

Are there questions I should be asking but I’m not?!

Should I stop asking questions and just Nike It?

I don’t know the answers. I think that’s ok. It’s worked out well when I trust my gut, don’t worry about figuring everything out, don’t worry What if?, don’t let thoughts of doubt creep in, and just leap. That’s the gist of the life of yes philosophy I preach and try to live by.

I remind myself what I always tell people who come to my Life of Yes workshops, meetups, and camps — whatever decision you make, to quit a job, to move, to try something new, it’s not a one-way street. You can return. Perhaps not to the exact same job or apartment. But back to the life you knew. Here’s what I’ve learned though. While helpful to keep that comforting option in mind, I’ve never wanted to return. Even if things haven’t worked out as planned, learning from experiences, good and bad, and moving forward, has been wildly rewarding. Scary, overwhelming, nerve wracking, but totally worth it.

So who knows. My 2015 zip code could be a number that doesn’t start with 6 for the first time in fourteen years and for only the second time in my thirty-six years. Maybe it’ll be zip codeS! Or maybe it won’t change at all. Life of Yes.

Here’s to enjoying the journey, wherever it takes us. And to embracing that what you know to be an absolute today — having kids, where you call home, your career path — may be something you could care less about tomorrow.

Have you made a big move? What were your reasons? Where’d you leave and where’d you go? Challenges? Successes? Advice? And WHERE SHOULD I GO?!

UPDATE: one of my lovely readers shared Find Your Spot, a quiz that helps you figure out where to go. Doesn’t seem to account for a world outside of the US but interesting nonetheless. Even just looking at the questions helps you think about what’s important to you. The top suggestions for me?

Santa Barbara, California

Palo Alto, California

Ventura, California

Valencia, California

Sacramento, California

San Bernardino, California

Santa Cruz, California

Frederick, Maryland

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

El Cajon, California

Medford, Oregon

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana

San Clemente, California

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Corvallis, Oregon

Little Rock, Arkansas

Honolulu, Hawaii

Charleston, West Virginia

Eugene, Oregon

Alexandria, Louisiana

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Monica, California

Salem, Oregon

Thanks to everyone who participated in my non-scientific study including the following folks with links, whom you should hire and support and reach out to if they’re in your neck of the woods –

Chicago is my twice-adopted home – I moved here with my then-husband in 2004 to start grad school. I wanted to be here, grew up in Michigan and loved urban visits, and studied here for a semester in college (during another rough winter!). We were starting our life together and planting roots. I had friends and was ready to make more and really build a life and a community. In 2010, when my marriage fell apart and I was all graduated, trained and licensed, it was time for some real change – time to jolt me out of my comfort… Read more »

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katieaune

5 years ago

Fascinating. I have seen some of the exodus too. Speaking for myself, when I left to travel in 2011, a large part of it was that I was just tired of Chicago. I felt stagnant here and was bored and felt like I just didn’t have much in common with people as I had before. When I looked for places to live when I returned, Chicago ended up feeling natural to come back to, but I think more and more about leaving as well. It’s been harder than I imagined to get back into a social life and I found… Read more »

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JillyMacDowell

5 years ago

This (substitute Pittsburgh): “I found that I didn’t love Chicago anymore and couldn’t get excited about it again. It started to feel too big, too crowded, my commute was too much, I wasn’t seeing the friends I did have as much. In my effort to try to rekindle my love for Chicago, I did some fun stuff and I was making lots of girlfriends but having a difficult time dating. I wanted to live in a smaller city where living/getting around was just a little bit easier. I needed more breathing room.” Yes to everything about this, Saya! Impressive data-gathering.… Read more »

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MeganReilly

5 years ago

I loved reading this Saya! Coming up on 10 years in NYC (with an original 2 year plan) and for some reason still not ready to give it up 100%, I have to say… If you can try another city short-term (which we both are lucky enough to do as entrepreneurs), it’s a great way to test the waters and get a fresh perspective (and YES grow your business). As someone now doing the bi-coastal thing, I’ve loved the change of scenery in California (awesome weather, tons of “creatives” and nontraditional workers, Ocean-side hiking and biking, cool people, healthy living,… Read more »

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billstreeter

5 years ago

OK I read the post and I have to say the story sounds very familiar. About 90% of the people I knew when I lived there also don’t live there any more. Some of them were already leaving before I did. Most left after. I think it has more to do with why you live there than anything. I moved there to go to school and hung around for a few years after that. But Chicago is a pretty unfriendly city on a lot of levels and it just wears you down after a while. If it isn’t high rent,… Read more »

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stacyarmisted

5 years ago

Love this compilation so much. Update: before I left for my travels, I was thinking of moving to Austin or Boulder when the trip was over, but I’ve completely fallen in love with Melbourne and if I miss it like I feel I will as I travel other countries I will come back and seek work here. It’s funny because the idea of living in another country wasn’t even on my radar when I left. And the only reason I came to Melbourne is because I was offered free accommodate through a Facebook group I’m part of. The best you… Read more »

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milanogirl

5 years ago

I made the move from Chicago in February 2011. I fulfilled a dream to teach English abroad in a country where my ancestors were from (Italy), and I actually had never been there before either. I miss Chicago and my good friends dearly. It’s almost been four years now. I always consider the idea of moving back. It has been a phenomenal journey rich with learning experiences. I think in life we continue to get to know ourselves better and we are gradually revealed to ourselves. I am trying to figure my next move, do I stay here, go back… Read more »

Another chicago based gal here, your age, about to leave to go teach English in Italy. Would love to chat more-if you do too, please don’t hesitate to email me!: carrie89thstreet@yahoo.com
Fab blog Saya and the very best of luck to you!

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sayahillman

5 years ago

KristinaMarie1 Thanks for sharing your experience! I had no idea about S. Korea, sounds like it was exactly what you needed. As was coming home.

We shall see! I feel no pressure or stress, just excitement about the possibilities. And appreciation for Best Friend and for my job-situation.

PS – way to step it out the other night! #FearExperiment

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sayahillman

5 years ago

katieaune I’ve loved everything you’ve posted since before you left. Very much appreciate your detail, transparency, and including the ups AND downs. Have also enjoyed how you’ve recognized changes, both in yourself and in others/what you want in life. RE DC and the ‘right’ opportunity — that waiting for the perfect time always gets me, in my own life and when I see others doing it. It seems that it usually rarely comes and personally, I’d so much just do it, whatever it is, and see what happens. Before 5, 10, my whole life passes and I wonder what if… Read more »

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sayahillman

5 years ago

JillyMacDowell so nice to hear from you!!!!

I know, Cali-Crazy over here!

Where are you considering your second home? I like that idea.

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sayahillman

5 years ago

MeganReilly I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since you left! I remember thinking what a big move, literally and else wise.

What’s your percentage breakdown of NYC/Cali time?

Where in Cali are you?

I love the idea of a short-term stint, that’s most attractive to me now. Not to say I’d come back to Chicago after it was over, think I’d try out another place. And then another place. With trips home mixed in.

Thanks for your cheers and thoughts!

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sayahillman

5 years ago

billstreeter Seems all relative Bill. I have so many friends here who love how friendly and cheap and easy to live in it is compared with where they came from. People who’ve moved here to start a family. To make money. Etc.
That’s what’s great about life! What works for you doesn’t have to work for others, and vice versa. There’s a home for everyone.
Now, just to find that home for me…

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sayahillman

5 years ago

stacyarmisted Wow, big change and update! Sounds like you have a network over there already but if you need/want more at some point, let me know. Have some folks that way.

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sayahillman

5 years ago

milanogirl All about quality of life for me. That’s priority.

Thanks for sharing your story!
Been interesting to see how many of my friends are considering non-traditional parenting b/c they’re partnerless or can’t have kids the traditional way. Foster parenting, adopting, surrogacy (both in offering and in having someone do it for them), etc.

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kevinpnye

5 years ago

milanogirl I actually don’t know you nor Saya, but saw this post on facebook as a recent moved-out-of-chicago-er and am doubly amazed because i moved to Milan to teach english with my fiancee and am here right now. The whole article is definitely interesting and I’m happy to share my brief input: saved up enough money, but we’re ready to have a yard and a dog and see stars at night. Thought our last hurrah in a city should be doing something totally different (i was in sales at a small software company, she’s a nurse practitioner) and signed up… Read more »

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sayahillman

5 years ago

Thanks for chiming in kevinpnye! And yay for strangers connecting and offering kindness. Have a great holiday!

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HKNardini

5 years ago

THANK YOU for sharing!! I’ve lived in 7 different cities before “landing” in Chicago, and can definitely identify with that restless feeling. Maybe it’s just my name (ha!), but I’m always looking ahead to the excitement of what’s next. Because I knew this move would mean I’d stay for a good while, I promised myself I’d go on two international trips each year, so that even with a full time job, it would never feel stifling. I think having itchy feet is a good sign. It means you’re ready for your next challenge…whatever and wherever that may be. Can’t wait… Read more »

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sayahillman

5 years ago

HKNardini Itchy Feet! Ha, I love that.
I didn’t realize you had moved so much Hope, though doesn’t surprise me — you are ADVENTURE and LIVING LIFE!
Thanks for the rah rah rah, much appreciated.

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milanogirl

5 years ago

@kevinpnye Is your fiancee’s name Jenna? I am Beth; I work for The English Playgroup. If so, we all had plans Saturday night to meet at Carlsberg. I’m always happy to meet with people from Chicago!

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cynthiarturner

5 years ago

Hi Saya, I don’t know you, but read your posting. I left Chicago at 36 yrs old as well. Born and raised in Chicago I knew that at some point I would want to leave Illinois and try something different. I lived in the City for 13 yrs and prior to that grew up in the burbs. When my friends all started getting married and having children while I was a career girl I realized that my circle of old friends was dwindling and I was also getting tired of the winters. I researched many places and ultimately ended up… Read more »

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sayahillman

5 years ago

cynthiarturner Thanks for sharing your experience! SF is definitely on my radar — so many of my folks have found their way out there. The housing costs and process scares me though! I do love Portland.
We shall see! So many options.
Very happy to hear your leap was a good one —

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ErikaWicks

5 years ago

Funky internet, so apologies if this is a duplicate post. . . Taking a few days to read through this and gather my thoughts. Here’s what I came up with: I’ve lived in the Midwest, East Coast, South, and West Coast. This is my second stint in Chicago and is, for now, my permanent home. What I’ve found is that every place you leave, you miss certain things, and your heart skips a beat when someone mentions that cafe or neighborhood from your old city. But then you also discover new and wonderful things in your new home that you… Read more »

sayahillman billstreeter Saya, I agree. It’s all relative. There isn’t any universal truth about any city being universally “bad.” It depends on what a person wants in their own life. For 19 years I was happy in Chicago–snow and all. My decision to move to Portland wasn’t a Chicago-Bad, Portland-Good dichotomy. It really was a decision about what I wanted and where I could best find it.

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ErikaWicks

5 years ago

Funky internet, so apologies if this is a duplicate post. . . Taking a few days to read through this and gather my thoughts. Here’s what I came up with: I’ve lived in the Midwest, East Coast, South, and West Coast. This is my second stint in Chicago and is, for now, my permanent home. What I’ve found is that every place you leave, you miss certain things, and your heart skips a beat when someone mentions that cafe or neighborhood from your old city. But then you also discover new and wonderful things in your new home that you… Read more »

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DebbieH

5 years ago

Does Saya’s mother get a vote in this discussion? I purposely didn’t say anything about where she went to college (Boston), knowing that if I kept my mouth shut, she might come back to Chicago. Besides, by then I was ready to take a sabbatical from being a hands-on mother. So, waddya know — my grand plan worked!! For 15 years so far. Now, it looks like I need another grand plan. Can you give me a couple months to figure this one out? If not, my first thought is, how about moving near an Amtrak line west of the… Read more »

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3SliceToaster

5 years ago

No, Saya, you’re not imagining things. I know five people who moved from Chicago to Nevada and California in 2014. And since being in Nevada, I’ve run into three more people who moved from Chicago in the last two years. All of us say the weather was the primary reason. Taxes, corruption, and affordability are secondary causes. The great thing is that with so many Chicagoans out here, you can get anything you want from Chicago. There’s a grocery store down the street that has a huge Chicago section with probably 30 or 40 different Chicago items from Jay’s potato… Read more »

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Annetteboo19

5 years ago

Saya, I have thought about leaving Chicago for years now. After last years winter I decided this year was a last ditch effort. This winter I planned a trip to a warm place every month. Being a business owner myself I was able to do just that. You mentioned going to Secrets. Funny enough, I just got back from there about two weeks ago. In two more weeks I leave for Florida for three weeks. So far this nomadic existence is working. This winter also hasn’t been as bad as last. My biggest problem is I haven’t found a place… Read more »

Thanks for sharing Annette! Gives me more faith that I can make this work.

Have you tried Asheville or Nashville?
Warmer climates I could do…

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EbonyKleinman

4 years ago

You went very in depth for why your friends are moving out of Chicago! I think there are a lot of different reasons for why someone wants to move and it’s tough for the people that stay behind. A good friend of mine moved to Washington state last year and it’s been really hard to not be able to see her in person. She wants everyone to come live up in the Pacific Northwest with her, but I like living where I am right now. Sure, there are always things that will bother you about a particular place, but there… Read more »

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J M

2 years ago

I moved away a BUNCH of times, even overseas, and then kept coming back. I have deep roots here- friends I’ve known for more than 25+ yrs, some family, a ton of memories, etc. I’m also 36, and can definitely relate to the odd feeling of watching your social circles shift apart so drastically. It seems to be a hugely transitional time in life, and everyone’s sort of scrambling around to find themselves or make life changes they wish they’d done sooner, etc. I am happy to say as of right now, I have zero doubts that I want to… Read more »

Just realized you re-posted this, when I saw it just now on twitter I thought it was a new post. After 16 years there, I left Chicago in October. Can’t name much I miss. Landed in a fantastic neighborhood in Phoenix and even though it’s hot right now, I would not change a thing.

I grew up in a suburb of Chicago and used to take pride in the city. After college I moved to the east coast and lived there for 6 years with a great job. I ended up making some good friends out there as well. About a year ago I got homesick and moved back to Chicago to be closer to my family. In the year I’ve lived in Chicago I have had two jobs. Both were terrible roles with terrible companies and couldn’t have ended any worse. On top of that I have been busy trying to figure out… Read more »

Ugh Dan, that’s the worst, when you’re busy figuring out work’ness, the time when networking and getting out there is most important but you don’t have the time or money to so. Catch 22, indeed. Next Door Chicago has a gaggle of free events and I have a variety of ones that are free/low-cost — Minglers are a great way to low-key meet folks. You can see upcoming ones on my calendar page: http://bit.ly/1dRzOfU. Other suggestions on my Life of Yes℠ resources list on my FAQ page: https://macncheeseproductions.com/general-faq/ Good luck choosing your next chapter, whether it be here or East… Read more »

What an exciting time for you, I just moved to Chicago but before that I was living in CA and I really enjoyed it there and wasn’t sure I was up for the change but so far so good. Every chapter comes with its own struggles but in the end its all growth and so worth it. best of luck to you!

Wow, I’ve been considering leaving the Chicago suburbs for a few years! I still have 2 years left of college though:( I can’t stand the long commutes, the terrible traffic, the awful drivers(even in the far outer suburbs they still drive like jerks, they tailgate, speed, and cut in and out of traffic ). I don’t mind the cold weather, or the cool rainy fall temps. It’s mainly the people that drive me crazy! Most people I grew up with have already left the area. I can’t make up my mind, there’s a lot to explore in the city. but… Read more »